benhillboy

Too many times we focus on what the Hawks did wrong.  Half the time you just have to tip your hat to the opposition.  A reigning (deserved) First Team defender in Caruso, a questionable HOF candidate in DeRozan (46% per BB Ref), and a young, rapidly improving guard in White in a class of many who will give the Hawks fits for years to come trust me (Suggs, Anthony, Sexton, Pritchett, Ivey, Merrill, Podziemski, Wallace) is simply too much for the Hawks to handle, as both teams were without 3 key rotation players (Jalen. OO, Bey, LaVine, Ball, and Patterson all Top 100 players when healthy). With no leadership it’s simply impossible to play at a playoff level through injuries.

Anyway I enjoyed watching Bogi’s steady improvement, Jalen’s big jump, Dre’s career -best three point volume and shooting, & Bruno, Vit, and Methamphetamine Bogi finding their ways in the Association.

1 hour ago, Dnice said:

1 f***in 57?? Shit 

No Clint.  We saw the uptick in his play late in the season.  He’s been over playing with Trae fior a couple seasons now.  It’s easily seen by how rarely he sprints to and from screens above the arc on offense now, same with his tags out on the perimeter on defense.

I described the poor chemistry dynamic that Trae earns the lion’s share of years ago, then Jackie McMullan reported multiple sources with the team lamenting it a couple months later in one of the few large pieces ESPN has done on the Hawks when Nate took over.  It hasn’t changed.
 

Clint’s not even a great player, tons of offensive holes, but he’s been arguably the most impactful since he’s been here looking at his offensive rebounding, paint anchoring, screening, and experience.  Hawks are 139-133 all time in the regular season with him, 19-24 without.

Hali is that dude tho.  He had an extended slump and still is top 5 in efg amongst lead guards and the gap between him and everyone else in terms of lead guard assist to turn is massive.  Awesome floor raising job for him, that roster is full of young, mediocre individual players.  Deserving of a few MVP votes no doubt.

I apologize for the font lol

10 minutes ago, terrell said:

24-32 before the injury.

12-11 during the absence.

0-3 after the return.

The Hawks brass doesn’t gives a sh@t how he affects the score and wins and losses.  I been documenting how his contemporaries at the high usage guard spot (and some lower ones) were gonna pass him in impact for years.  Just keep the arena gift shop full and they good.

That pass by AJ was pathetic 

Head to head this season Trae is -82, Halibirton +67

To Bruno’s family, I’m sorry for your loss.

I know Haliburton airballed that three but that coverage was a microcosm of the season.

The Pacers are pressing the inbounds pass up 13.  One of the many cultural differences between the two teams.  Hawks don’t even press down 13.

Poor Trae down there trying to rebound over Turner.

Quinn to the ref: “please explain why Gueye wasn’t fouled, even though I know your explanation is gonna be some bullshit.”

Haliburton turning up the intensity, gotta match it 

If I can quote North, “shoot the ball Trae!”

This had turned into a helluva game.

Vit just knows how to play, nice brush screen after the handoff to make sure DJ was free.

I don’t know his backstory but I’m sure he played with grown ass pro men at a young age.

I like how Bruno always finishes strong when he can.

DJs season numbers look great.  He just doesn’t impact the game from a mental standpoint, on the margins, or outside the box at all.

They’ve proven to be the worst matchup for the Hawks, their 64% shooting versus us this season may go up after today.  
 

Hawks very much still in the game tho.  Good feel timeout by Carlisle.  Pacers settling too much and DJ had that bounce like he was about to heat up.

6 minutes ago, terrell said:

How can you watch this backcourt this long and think its going to work defensively?

They're not even a good fit offensively IMO..

Frontcourt is bad but so is backcourt

 

I enjoyed watching the Magic this season.  Fultz, Anthony, Harris, and Suggs get after it every possession, relieving as much pressure as possible off their front court,

Okay Mo I see you.  Looking like Siakam there 

DJ is ass defending on ball I swear.

I was staunchly against the play in tournament at first.  Looking at how consequential game 82 is around the league, the sh*t works.

Aight it’s time for Myles to sit.

Bogi forced Siakam off the ball in the post and they still get 3 smh. 

They can run an elite pace because they have active hands on defense.  Bruce Brown showed them how to get timely stops then they trade him lol.

Such a smart home crowd.  Chanting “defense!” immediately after the tip.  Most fans don’t know how much it energizes the team.

52 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

Are we playing our starters?

Everyone except Clint.  Good decision, he doesn’t need to be running with the Pacers’ #2 pace with Drummond on the horizon.   Their unfamiliarity with Bruno and Mo should pay some dividends.

56 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Trae's improvement from End of December to now has been very noticeable 

Eh, he’s always up and down with his approach possession to possession, game to game.  Granted I took a hiatus from the Hawks after the first Clippers loss on 2/5 where they gave up 149 in regulation, I had enough.  Didn’t tune back until the first Celtics win, knowing the Hawks would still tread around .500 without him.

Basketball Reference really loved his game last night tho, one of the biggest metrics jumps I’ve seen from him, now at +.3 on/off.  Hopefully he can keep it after Sunday, a negative on/off from him on this roster is totally unacceptable.